Westminster Dog Show 2013: Banana Joe Puts His Breed On The Map

Affenpinscher means ‘monkey terrier’ in German, which is appropriate, because people are going bananas for the tiny breed!

A few days ago, you probably had no idea what affenpinschers were; but pretty soon, you won’t be able to escape them! Ever since 5-year-old Banana Joewas named Best in Show on Feb. 12 at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, CNN reports the demand for affenpinschers has never been higher.

Jude Daley, president of the Affenpinscher Club of America — yes, that exists — tells CNN that “within a half hour of the big win, [she] already had quite a few e-mails from people looking for affenpinschers.”

But the little guys don’t come cheap; Jude says the puppies she breeds go for $2,500 each! Jude says prospective owners are known to wait months, or in some cases years, to get an affenpinscher because many breeders need to find mates from other countries.

Some Background On Affenpinschers

“Affenpinscher” may translate to “monkey terrier,” but its nickname is even more incredible: “the little devil with a mustache!”

The average affenpinscher weighs between 6 and 13 pounds, and stands between 9 to 12 inches tall. They’re known to get along well with other pets, and they don’t typically shed very much. Though black is the most common color for an affenpinscher’s coat, many other colors and shades exist.

Affenpinschers may be adorable, but sadly they’re not recommended for owners with small children, as they can become very territorial.